Runoff is likely after 52nd Assembly District seat vote

Seven Democrats, one Republican and one independent are running in Tuesday's election for the 52nd Assembly District seat.

Polling places will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. for voters to select the next person who will represent portions of east Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, including Pomona, Chino, Montclair, Ontario and western Fontana.

The Special Primary Election was called after state Sen. Norma Torres, D-Montclair, won the slot in the 32nd State Senate District in May.

"I think it's going to be a run-off, no one is going to get 50 percent plus 1, regardless of parties," said Alan Hoffenblum, a former Republican political consultant and editor of the California Target Book, which gauges the competitiveness of legislative races.

Ontario Mayor Paul Leon is listed as Independent and business owner Dorothy Pineda is listed as Republican.

Leon was registered Republican but switched parties after he lost to Torres for the 32nd seat.

"This is a race where 20 votes could make the difference of you coming in second or third and so the only thing you can say is, the Republican party itself is not getting much involved even though they have their own candidate, Dorothy Pineda," said Hoffenblum.

"This is a definitely a Democratic seat, which is one of the reasons why Leon re-registered as no party preference."The district has 116,420 registered voters on the San Bernardino County side and 57,493 in Los Angeles County.

An unofficial summary of the ballots will be released around 8 p.m. today and updated every hour, registrar's officials from both counties said.